Articulate support arm assembly for optical devices



Jan. 10, 1967 H. F. EVERETT ARTICULATE SUPPORT ARM ASSEMBLY FOR OPTICALDEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1965 R n ME N E m. mE F A Q m A HM Q\ \w %w mm ATTORNEY H. F. EVERETT Jan. 10, 71967 ARTICULATE SUPPORTARM ASSEMBLY FOR OPTICAL DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1965 T mm R E VV m5 F 2 N J J E M 3 3 H 9 m/ H 4 I an? 0 r0 1L H. 4 O PO 6 3 n JJ 6 o o g O 1 U h l I: J

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,297,291 ARTICULATE SUPPORT ARM ASSEMBLYFOR OPTICAL DEVICES Hazen F. Everett, Hillsdale, N .J., assignor to TheEdnalite Corporation, Westchester County, N.Y., a corporation of NewYork Filed Feb. 3, 1965, Ser. No. 430,090 8 Claims. (Cl. 248278) Thisinvention relates to an adjustable support structure for optical orother devices arranged so that the supported device may be adjustablyraised or lowered, tilted or moved horizontally in relation to anunderlying work surface.

It is an object of this invention to provide an articulate arm assemblyparticularly intended to form part of an adjustable support structurefor an optical device, such as, a large magnifying lens suitable forbinocular viewing of minute objects being assembled or inspected, andwherein the articulate arm assembly is formed of a plurality ofelongated arm elements arranged in successive end-to-end relation andhaving their adjacent ends joined to each other in a manner to permitrelative horizontal swinging of the adjacent arm elements throughapproximately 360.

Another object is to provide an articulate arm assembly of the describedcharacter in which the joints conmeeting the adjacent ends of thesuccessive arm elements are constructed to permit free relative swingingmovements thereof and to avoid binding of the arm elements in allrelative positions thereof.

A further object is to provide an adjustable support structure includingan articulate arm assembly which is designed so as to be relativelyinexpensive to produce and attractive in appearance.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the elongated armelements arranged in successive end-toend relation have bores extendingthrough their adjacent end portions perpendicular to the longitudinalaxes of the arm elements, and are pivotally connected at their adjacentends by joint means each includinga joint element having parallel wallsspaced apart by a web extending centrally between the walls, andparallel pivot pins extending between, and mounted in the spaced wallsof the joint element at opposite sides of the web, such pivot pins beingreceived in the bores at the adjacent ends of the arm elements, so that,upon swinging of one arm element relative to the next arm elementsubstantially beyond an angle of 180, the angularly displaced armelement acts against the web of the joint element to turn the latterrelative to the next arm element about the pivot pin forming theconnection therewith.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this invention,will be apparent in the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection withthe accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an adjustable support structureshown carrying an optical device and which includes an articulate armassembly embodying this invention, with arm elements of that assemblyand a vertical post also included in the adjustable support structurebeing shown broken or reducedin length;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the arrangement shown on FIG. 1, but withthe articulate arm assembly in another possible position thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, sectional view taken along the line 33 on FIG. 1and showing details of a joint assembly connecting adjacent armelements;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 on FIG. 3;

3,297,291 Patented Jan. 10, 1967 FIG. 5 is a detail view, partly brokenaway and in section, of a pivot pin included in the joint assembly ofFIGS. 3 and 4; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along the line 66 onFIG. 1, and showing the means by which the optical device is suspendedfrom the articulate arm assembly.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2thereof, it will be seen that the adjustable support structure thereillustrated and generally identified by the reference numeral 10includes a base 11 adapted to be mounted on a table or other Worksurface indicated by broken lines at 12 on FIG. 1; a vertical post 13extending upwardly from base 11; a mounting bracket assembly 14adjustable vertically along post 13; and an articulate arm assembly 15supported, at one end, by bracket 14 and having an optical or otherdevice 16 suspended from its other end.

In the support structure shown, base 11 includes a generally rectangularplate 17 having a raised portion 18 formed, with an upwardly openingsocket receiving the lower end of post 13 which is secured in thesocket, as by set screw 19. The base plate 17 may be secured to thetable or other work surface 12 by means of screws passing throughcountersunk holes 20 formed in plate 17 adjacent the four cornersthereof. Alternatively, and as shown on the drawings, plate 17 may besecured to table 12 adjacent an edge of the latter by means of a clampjaw 21 slidable vertically on two threaded rods 22 depending from oneside portion of base plate 17 and having wing nuts 23 screwed thereonbelow clamping jaw 21 for holding the latter tightly against theunderside of the edge portion of table 12..

The mounting bracket assembly 14 includes a body 24 formed with avertical bore 25 extending therethrough and slidably receiving post 13.As shown particularly on FIG. 2, body 24 further has a tapped boreextending radially outward from bore 25 and receiving a locking screw26. The inner end of locking screw 26 carries a bearing pad 27 of nylonor other suitable material that can be urged into clamping or lockingengagement with post 13 without scoring or marring the surface of thelatter. Secured to the outer end of locking screw 26 is a cylindricalhandle 28 having a knurled surface and being of sufficiently large sizeto permit its use in turning locking screw 26 for either looking orreleasing body 24 relative to post 13 and in raising and loweringbracket assembly 14 and the arm assembly 15 and optical device 16suspended therefrom. Body 24 of bracket assembly 14 further has a pairof vertically spaced ears 29 extending therefrom and formed withvertically aligned openings which receive a vertical pivot pin 30.

In accordance with this invention, articulate arm assembly 15 includes aplurality of elongated arm elements, for example, three arm elements 31,32 and 33, as shown. In order to minimize the weight of arm assembly 15,elements 31, 32 and 33 are preferably of aluminum or other light metal.The arm elements are preferably formed of bar stock of rectangularcross-section simply cut into suitable lengths for easy fabrication. Thearm elements 31, 32 and 33 are arranged in successive, end-to-endrelation and have the major dimensions of their rectangularcross-sections extending vertically. Arm assembly 15 further includesjoint assemblies 34 which pivotally connect the adjacent ends of armelements 31 and 32 and of arm elements 32 and 33, respectively.

As shown particularly on FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the joint assemblies 34includes a joint element 35 having spaced top and bottom walls 36 and 37which are preferably circular and joined by a central or diametricallyextending vertical web 38 so that recesses 39 are defined be,- tween thetop and bottom walls 36 and 37 at the opposite sides of web 38 forreceiving the adjacent ends of arm elements 31 and 32 or of arm elements32 and 33. Sockets 40 (FIG. 4) are formed in the underside of top wall36 at opposite sides of, and spaced from web 38, and holes 41 extendthrough bottom wall 37 in vertical alignment with both sockets 40. Thebottom wall 37 is further formed with a bore 42 extending diametricallytherethrough at right angles to the plane of web 38 so as to interceptholes 41.

The opposite end portions of arm elements 31 and 32 and the end portionof arm element 33 that is to be pivotally connected to arm element 32are formed with bores 43 extending vertically therethrough, that is, inthe direction of the major axis of the rectangular cross-section of thearm elements. Each of the joint assemblies 34 further includes two pivotpins 44 extended upwardly through holes 41 of the related joint element35 and through the bores 43 in the end portions of the arm elements tobe pivotally connected by the joint assembly. The upper ends of pivotpins 44 project above the arm elements and are received in sockets 40,as shown particularly on FIG. 4. The lower end portion of each pivot pin44 has a diametrically extending bore 45 (FIG. located to register withthe diametrical bore 42 in the lower wall 37 of the joint element whenthe upper end of the pivot pin 44 is fully seated in the related socket40, and the ends of bore 45 are preferably beveled or countersunk, asshown, so as to facilitate the entry of a locking pin 46 driven intobore 42 through the adjacent end of the latter.

The end portion of arm element 31 which is to be suspended from bracketassembly 14 is inserted between cars 29, and the vertical bore 43 insuch end portion of arm element 31 receives pivot pin 30 which isinserted downwardly therein. The pin 30 is secured against inadvertentremoval, as by a split resilient metal ring 47 (FIG. 1) which engages inan annular groove formed in the surface of pin 30 so as to be locatedbelow the lower ear 29. The end portion of arm element 33 from whichoptical device 16 is to be suspended is fomied with a bore 48 (FIG. 6)extending laterally therethrough, that is, in the direction of the minoraxis of the rectangular cross-section of element 33. Bore 48 receives atrunnion 49 extending from a mounting pad 50 which is suitably securedto the suspended device 16, as hereinafter described. Trunnion 49 has alength greater than the width of arm element 33 and its projecting endportion is threaded, as at 51, to receive an internally threaded knob52.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the suspended opticaldevice 16 is of a type intended for the magnified binocular viewing ofobjects, for example, during the assembly or inspection of minute parts.The device 16 is shown to include a generally rectangular frame 53preferably formed with rounded corners, as shown on FIG. 2, and havingan inwardly directed flange 54 extending along one entire edge of theframe. A lens 55 is received in frame 53 and, where such lens isplanoconvex, as shown, the lens is arranged with its planar surfacefacing toward and seating, at its edge portion, against flange 54. Thelens 55 may be held within frame 53 by means of retainers 56 securedagainst the inner surfaces of the short sides or ends of rectangularframe 53, as by screws 57 (FIG. 1). Retainers 56 have suitably contouredlongitudinal edges 58 (FIG. 6) to seat against the convex surface oflens55 at the opposite ends of the latter. The frame 53 is secured, at oneof its short sides or ends, to mounting pad 50, as by screws 59 (shownin broken lines on FIG. 6) which extend through aligned holes in pad 50and frame 53 and into tapped holes in the adjacent retainer 56.

In order to prevent dropping of optical device 16 onto the table orother work surface 12 during adjustment of bracket assembly 14 alongpost 13, a stop is preferably provided on post 13 below the bracketassembly. Such stop may be in the form of a collar 60 slidable alongpost 13 under the bracket assembly and being adjustably secured inposition by a set screw with an actuating knob 61.

It will be apparent that adjustment of the vertical position of opticaldevice 16 above table 12 may be achieved by moving bracket assembly 14along post 13, as previously described. Tilting of optical device 16 orturning thereof about a horizontal axis coinciding with the axis oftrunnion 49, so that either the planar or the convex sur face of lens 55may face downwardly, is made possible merely by loosening knob 52 andmanually tilting or tuming the optical device, whereupon knob 52 isretightened to secure the optical device in its adjusted positionrelative to arm element 33.

When it is desired to change the horizontal position of optical device16 over the table or work surface, it is only necessary to grasp theknob 52 or the frame 53 of the optical device and to manually displacethe latter to the desired position. Such horizontal displacement of theoptical device, causes the elements 31, 32 and 33 of the articulate armassembly 15 to be suitably angularly displaced with respect to eachother and relative to the body 24 of bracket assembly 14. Duringhorizontal displacement of the optical device, for example, from theposition of FIG. 1 where arm elements 31, 32 and 33 are fully extendedor in-line, to the position of FIG. 2 where the arm elements arerelatively folded, the joint assemblies 34 ensure that the necessaryrelative angular displacements of the arm elements will be freelyaccomplished without binding.

As shown particularly on FIG. 3, the effectiveness of each jointassembly 34 in permitting relative angular displacement ofthe armelements connected thereby through at least 360 Without binding resultsfrom the fact that each connected arm element, for example, the element32 on FIG. 3, can swing relative to joint element 35 through an angle ofat least l from one extreme position, indicated in broken lines at 32',to the opposite extreme position, indicated in broken lines at 32". Ateach of these extreme positions, the arm element engages the central web38 of the joint element so that further singing of the arm elementbeyond one or the other of the extreme positions 32 and 32" causesturning of joint element 35 about the pivot pin 44 which connects thejoint element to the next adjacent arm element 31. Such turning of thejoint element 35 results in a laterally directed force acting on theadjacent end of the next arm 31 and tending to swing the latter in thedirection for completing the folding or relative angular displacement ofthe pivotally connected arm elements. Thus, the horizontal displacementof theoptical device is achieved smoothly and without undue resistancefrom the articulate support arm assembly.

It will also be apparent that the components of articulate arm assembly15 present a smooth and attractive appearance and require a minimum ofmachining operations so as to be capable of relatively inexpensiveproduction.

Although an illustrative embodiment of this invention has been describedin detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawing assupporting a particular type .of optical device, it will be apparentthat other devices can be supported from the arm assembly 15, andfurther that various changes and modifications maybe made in thedescribed and illustrated embodiment by one skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the invention, except as definedin the appended claims What is claimed is: I

1. An articulate support arm assembly comprising a plurality ofelongated arm elements arranged in successive end-to-end relation; and

joint means pivotally connecting adjacent ends of said arm elements,each of said joint means including a joint element carrying two spacedapart, parallel pivot pins and having a web extending between said pivotpins perpendicular to the plane passing through the axes of said pins,said adjacent ends of the arm elements having bores receiving said pivotpins of the joint means.

2. An articulate support arm assembly comprising a plurality ofelongated arm elements arranged in successive end-to-end relation andhaving bores extending through their adjacent end portions perpendicularto the longitudinal axes of the arm elements; and

joint means pivotally connecting the adjacent ends of said arm elements,each of said joint means including a joint element having parallel wallsspaced by a central web extending therebetween to define oppositelyopening recesses receiving said adjacent ends to the arm elements, andparallel pivot pins mounted in said Walls at opposite sides of said weband extending through said bores of the end portions of the arm elementsdisposed in said recesses.

3. In an adjustable support for an optical device, an

articulate arm assembly comprising a plurality of elongated,horizontally directed arm elements arranged in successive end-to-endrelation and having vertical bores in their adjacent end portions; and

joint means pivotally connecting said adjacent ends of the arm elements,each of said joint means including a joint element having top and bottomwalls and a vertical web extending centrally between said walls, andvertical pivot pins extending between, said mounted in said walls atopposite sides of said web, said pivot pins being received in said boresat the adjacent ends of the arm elements so that each joint element andthe arm elements connected thereby are relative- 1y swingable throughapproximately 180 degrees and the arm elements connected by each jointmeans are relatively swingable through approximately 360 degrees.

4. An adjustable support for an optical device comprising a verticalpost;

a mounting bracket slidable on said post and carrying locking means forsecuring said bracket in adjusted position along said post; and

an articulate arm assembly mounted at one end on said bracket forhorizontal swinging with respect to the bracket and having means at itsother end for carrying an optical device, said arm assembly including aplurality of elongated, horizontally directed arm elements arranged insuccessive end-to-end relation and having vertical bores in theiradjacent end portions, joint elements between said adjacent ends of thearm elements and each having top and bottom walls and a vertical centralweb spacing said walls to permit said adjacent end portions of the armelements to extend between said walls at opposite sides of said web, andvertical pivot pins mounted in said walls at said opposite sides of theweb and being received in said bores of the adjacent end portions of thearm elements so that each joint element and the arm elements connectedthereby are relatively swingable through approximately 180 degrees andthe arm elements connected by each joint element are swingable relativeto each other through approximately 360 degrees.

5. An adjustable support for an optical device as in claim 4;

wherein said bracket has vertically spaced ears extending therefrom andcarrying a vertical pivot pin, and

the arm element at said one end of the arm assembly has a vertical borereceiving said pivot pin of the bracket for effecting the mounting ofthe arm assembly on the bracket.

6. An adjustable support for an optical device as in claim 4;

wherein said arm elements are straight and have rectangularcross-sections with larger vertical than horizontal dimensions.

'7. An adjustable support for an optical device as in claim 4;

wherein the arm element at said other end of the arm assembly has ahorizontal bore extending therethrough and receiving said means forcarrying an optical device so that the latter can be adjusted about theaxis of said horizontal bore.

8. In a viewing apparatus, the combination of a vertical post;

a mounting bracket slidable on said post and carrying locking means forsecuring said bracket in adjusted position along said post;

an articulate arm assembly mounted at one end on said bracket forhorizontal swinging with respect to the bracket, said arm assemblyincluding a plurality of elongated, horizontally directed arm elementsarranged in successive end-to-end relation and having vertical bores intheir adjacent end portions, joint elements between said adjacent endsof the arm elements and each having top and bottom walls and a verticalcentral web spacing said walls to permit said adjacent end portions ofthe arm elements to extend between said walls at opposite sides of saidweb, and vertical pivot pins mounted in said walls at said oppositesides of the web and being received in said bores of the adjacent endportions of the arm elements so that each joint element and the armelements connected thereby are relatively swingable throughapproximately degrees and the arm elements connected by each jointelement are swingable relative to each other through approximately 360degrees, the arm element at the end of said assembly remote from saidbracket having a horizontal bore extending therethrough;

a lens element;

a frame carrying said lens element and having a threaded trunnionprojecting from one side of the frame through said horizontal bore; and

a knob screwed on said trunnion to clamp said frame relative to the armelement having said horizontal bore.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 669,378 3/1901Baldwin 248-463 3,031,086 4/ 1962 Blair 211133 3,086,107 4/ 1963 Grover240-52 3,231,994 2/ 1966 Cyrus 40125 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

K. I. WINGERT, Assistant Examiner.

4. AN ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT FOR AN OPTICAL DEVICE COMPRISING A VERTICALPOST; A MOUNTING BRACKET SLIDABLE ON SAID POST AND CARRYING LOCKINGMEANS FOR SECURING SAID BRACKET IN ADJUSTED POSITION ALONG SAID POST;AND AN ARTICULATE ARM ASSEMBLY MOUNTED AT ONE END ON SAID BRACKET FORHORIZONTAL SWINGING WITH RESPECT TO THE BRACKET AND HAVING MEANS AT ITSOTHER END FOR CARRYING AN OPTICAL DEVICE, SAID ARM ASSEMBLY INCLUDING APLURALITY OF ELONGATED, HORIZONTALLY DIRECTED ARM ELEMENTS ARRANGED INSUCCESSIVE END-TO-END RELATION AND HAVING VERTICAL BORES IN THEIRADJACENT ENDS OF THE ARM JOINT ELEMENTS BETWEEN SAID ADJACENT ENDS OFTHE ARM ELEMENTS AND EACH HAVING TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS AND A VERTICALCENTRAL WEB SPACING SAID WALLS TO PERMIT SAID ADJACENT END PORTIONS OFTHE ARM ELEMENTS TO EXTEND BETWEEN SAID WALLS AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAIDWEB, AND VERTICAL PIVOT PINS MOUNTED IN SAID WALLS AT SAID OPPOSITESIDES OF THE WEB AND BEING RECEIVED IN SAID BORES OF THE ADJACENT ENDPORTIONS OF THE ARM ELEMENTS SO THAT EACH JOINT ELEMENT AND THE ARMELEMENTS CONNECTED THEREBY ARE RELATIVELY SWINGABLE THROUGHAPPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES AND THE ARM ELEMENTS CONNECTED BY EACH JOINTELEMENT ARE SWINGABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 360DEGREES.